Travel Insurance: Just started thinking... - British Heart Fou...

British Heart Foundation

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Travel Insurance

Waterman profile image
27 Replies

Just started thinking about travelling again. Both my wife and I have heart conditions - I have VT, AF and an ICD. My wife mild stenosis, cholesterol issues and has had hypertension in the last couple of years but not now. Average quotes for a 12 month cover worldwide (inc US and Canada) were around £2000. Can anyone better that?

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Waterman
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27 Replies

Look to the right of your post under 'Related Posts'. There are others if you search this forum.

Waterman profile image
Waterman in reply to

Many thanks for your quick reply. A lot of those posts are 3 or 4 years old, I think, so I was looking for anyone setting up travel insurance now.

in reply toWaterman

With respect we must have had at least three new questions about travel insurance this last week alone.

Waterman profile image
Waterman in reply to

Thanks I'll look again.

marigoldb profile image
marigoldb in reply toWaterman

I have booked with Staysure, going away for one week with family to Menorca, cost £600, but at least I know everything is covered. I am elderly.

Waterman profile image
Waterman in reply tomarigoldb

Many thanks. Another vote for Staysure.

Coco51 profile image
Coco51 in reply toWaterman

Staydure has not been so good if you make a claim. My son, who's had cancer, used them for a skiing trip in January. He broke his hip and needed treatment in Switzerland. They've taken so long to pay for the helicopter ambulance he's had to pay for it himself - £3000+. They wouldn't settle direct and payment was demanded within 30 days. He's only just now being reimbursed after 4 months. On the bright side they are actually paying up. Fortunately the GHIC card (successor to the E111) paid for most of the hospital bills so that was OK. Make sure you get one of those! Some companies offer reduced premiums if you have the GHIC.

Waterman profile image
Waterman in reply toCoco51

Many thanks for the information. Very helpful. Good to hear they are paying up. Useful to know about the GHIC card.

Coco51 profile image
Coco51 in reply toWaterman

Actually I just checked with my son. They have not paid yet. I was mistaken. Though there shouldn't be a quibble and the representatives say it's in the pipeline. So he's feeling a bit poor at the moment.

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star

I always recommend StsySure and AllClear. Whilst not the cheapest they tend to have a rather more comprehensive cover.

You say your wife had hypertension but no longer. If this is achieved via medication then she has hypertension. Failing to declare it could result in a claim not being paid.

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply toMichaelJH

Leaving the US and the Caribbean off world wide cover will produce a significant reduction in premium. Removing cruises will also rescue the premium as they often require a helicopter recovery from the ship.

Waterman profile image
Waterman in reply toMichaelJH

Many thanks

Waterman profile image
Waterman in reply toMichaelJH

Many thanks. Noted re the hyper tension.

Cruise1 profile image
Cruise1 in reply toMichaelJH

My wife was diagnosed with hypertension many years ago and tried various medications (due to side effects) She then chose to come off the meds and monitors her body regularly - it is within normal limits and we suspect it was white coat syndrome.

Waterman profile image
Waterman in reply toCruise1

We're sure that is the case with my wife but once they've put hypertension on her records it's there in b&w for all to see. Thanks for the help.

Cruise1 profile image
Cruise1 in reply toWaterman

As she doesn’t take any medication or seen a doctor for years our travel insurance is not bothered.

Pollypuss profile image
Pollypuss

We used Staysure for Europe you could give them a try for worldwide . They were by far the cheapest and had very good reviews on Trustpilot

Waterman profile image
Waterman in reply toPollypuss

Thanks I'll try getting a quote.

MaggieSylvie profile image
MaggieSylvie

We went to Cyprus three weeks ago. My partner is Diabetic T1 and takes statins; I have blood cancer, compression fractures, fibromyalgia and have had BCCs. I found "Insured with" online and it was very cheap and easy to do. We didn't have to claim for anything.

Waterman profile image
Waterman in reply toMaggieSylvie

Many thanks for taking time to help me.

MaggieSylvie profile image
MaggieSylvie in reply toWaterman

That's ok. Glad to help. We found Staysure a bit expensive.

Vrouse profile image
Vrouse

Any insurance company is only proven if you need to claim. Staysure are by far the best having had to claim in the past. We do a joint annual policy for Europe for under £400 with everything declared, AVR, ICD, Diabetes, Sleep Apnoea, Hypertension, Diabetes, AF/past stroke. We also recently added cruise cover for additional £50.

Waterman profile image
Waterman in reply toVrouse

Definitely will look there asap. Staysure mentioned several times in these replies as a good bet.

thekeys46 profile image
thekeys46

Hi, I have used avanti. I’ve paid £576 for a year which includes USA. I declared sinus tachycardia, hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, angina, type 2 diabetes, previous breast cancer with lymph node involvement, peripheral artery disease, psoriatic arthritis, scleritis and hypothyroidism. A year was cheaper than 2 weeks.

Waterman profile image
Waterman in reply tothekeys46

Many thanks for your help. Appreciate you taking time to help us.

Hatchjd profile image
Hatchjd

If you are a UK national you can apply for a GHIC card on the uk.gov site. It entitles you to emergency care in the EU public health service at the same rate as locals and has no restriction on age or pre existing conditions. This does not replace private health insurance cover and doesnt cover anything out of the EU countries listed but great for emergencies. . It does take a few weeks to receive your card once you sign up.

Waterman profile image
Waterman in reply toHatchjd

Many thanks for your help.

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